Pros and Cons of Becoming a Stampin' Up! Consultant

Any serious rubber stamper knows the company Stampin' Up!. Their unique products and beautiful catalogs are among the top-selling products in the industry. It's not difficult to understand why so many stampers are interested in making money from their hobby through this great company. If you're interested in becoming a consultant for Stampin' Up!, here are some inside details of the pros and cons.

To become a demonstrator, you must first purchase the starter kit. This kit comes with several stamp sets, ink pads, and stamping accessories, all at a discounted price ($199). Stampin' Up! often hosts special deals on the starter kit, and it is usually worth it if you wait for a starter kit special. In January and February Stampin' Up! usually offers a free stamp set-your choice-with the purchase of a starter kit and a signed Demonstrator agreement. Other deals have included 12 free ink pads and 30% off the starter kit.

First, you need to decide why you want to become a demonstrator. Are you looking for a discount on your stamping supplies? Are you hoping to be able to earn enough money to pay for your hobby? Or are you hoping to make a part-time income?

All demonstrators get a 20% discount on every purchase, no minimum purchase required. That sounds like a great deal, but as a consultant, you are required to have $300 in purchases per quarter ($100 of purchases per month). Those purchases can be from friends or contacts you make, or they can be your own purchases, or any combination of the former. If you want to become a demonstrator just to get the discount, just be aware that you are either going to have to buy $300 worth of stamping product every quarter yourself, or else you are going to have to find other people to sell the product to.

If you are not in the position to cover your quarterly requirement yourself, you may want to become a demonstrator in order to make enough money to afford your hobby. You will need to start hosting and demonstrating at workshops. Although this sounds intimidating, it can be easy enough. Simply ask a friend or a family member if they will be willing to host a workshop for you; they will be responsible for inviting their friends over for the workshop, and you will instantly have several potential customers. When you get one of these invitees to sign up to host their own workshop, you've already begun your network of contacts. Customers will purchase product at the workshop, and you'll already be on your way to meeting your minimum requirement and making money.

How much will you make? You instantly receive 20% of every sale you make. So if you sell a $10.00 item, you will get to keep $2.00. Stampin' Up! also has a compensation plan; the more you sell, the more you make. So if you sell $400 a month of product, you'll get to keep a total of 23% of what you sell (that percentage is subject to change). If you're hoping to make money to afford your hobby, then your goal is to sell at least $300 of Stampin' Up! product per quarter, and then spend what you make from that on your own stamps and accessories. Generally speaking, most demonstrators can make the $300 requirement with approximately two workshops.

If, however, you are hoping to make some real money from being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you will need to be prepared for creating and running a small business. You will need a large network of contacts that will have to be constantly expanding, and you will need to advertise yourself as a demonstrator and offer good incentives for purchasing product. You'll also want to recruit other demonstrators. When you recruit others to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator you'll make money off their sales as well (that money is not deducted from the demonstrator; it is paid directly by the company). Stampin' Up! has a multi-level marketing plan, so you can make money on up to five levels of demonstrator recruits. While many demonstrators have made a nice income from being consultants, it is a process that will take time and business skills.

Whether or not you decide to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can still enjoy the great products that they create. Happy stamping!